"It's frustrating to see my brother play his heart and soul out for the team and them not put anything around him," Reggie Rose told ESPNChicago.com. "What have you pieced together? Have you made any moves? Have you made any trades to get better? You know all roads to the championship lead through Miami. What pieces have you put together for the physical playoffs? … Joakim Noah is a great player. Luol Deng is a great player. But you need more than that.''

Reggie's unexpected, critical comments overshadowed the Bulls' 86-67 loss to the Heat at the United Center and resonated so loudly that Derrick Rose felt compelled to issue a comment before tipoff.

"I have always felt that the Bulls organization's goals have been the same as mine and that is to bring another championship to this city,'' Derrick said.

The Bulls released the succinct, 25-word statement after team officials John Paxson and Gar Forman stopped Derrick in a hallway after a pre-game shootaround and ushered him into a private room. Five minutes later, D-Rose emerged but declined to comment as he breezed past reporters.

Reggie Rose sat in his usual courtside seat behind the west basket and bristled when I approached him during a first-quarter timeout to discuss his inflammatory comments.

"Reggie, do you have anything you want to add to your comments today?'' I asked.

"No comment,'' he answered.

"Do you regret anything you said?''

"What would I regret?''

"That you put Derrick in an uncomfortable spot.''

"That's my brother. That's my brother who you say I put in an uncomfortable spot.''